NFL Playoffs 2011: 10 Things You Need To Know About Packers Vs. Eagles
Many believe that this is going to be the best matchup of the 2011 wild-card playoff round...and why not?
The NFC showdown features two of the best quarterbacks in the league in Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and Philadelphia's Michael Vick. Both teams have explosive offenses, hard-nosed defenses, and great coaching.
As is the theme of this year's NFL regular season, anything can happen in this one.
I am going to break down 10 things that the average fan needs to know about this opening-round playoff matchup.
10. Packers Can Win On The Road
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Lets backtrack all the way to Week 1 of the NFL season, where the Packers came into Philadelphia and defeated the Eagles 27-20 in an exciting NFL opener.
However, let us also not forget that Kevin Kolb was the Eagles starting quarterback to open the season. Kolb was knocked out of the game, and that is when Michael Vick came on the scene and almost led the Eagles to a comeback victory.
He threw for 175 yards and a touchdown, as well as rushed for more than 100 yards in just one half of play.
With some injuries and new starters filling in, both of these teams will have a slight new look when they take the field this weekend.
But whether Vick played or not, the fact remains that the Packers came into Lincoln Financial Field and beat the Eagles on their home ground. That is impressive in itself, no matter who is playing quarterback.
9. The Eagles Control The Ground Game
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The Eagles led the NFL this year with an average of 5.5 yards-per-carry, with the second closest team posting a 4.6 YPC clip.
While their dominant rushing attack does start with the speed and elusiveness of Michael Vick, he is not the only dangerous weapon in the Eagles' backfield.
LeSean McCoy averages 5.2 yards-per-carry, which ranks amongst the top starters in the NFL. His backup,
Jerome Harrison, who the Eagles acquired from the Browns at the mid-season point, is averaging 6 yards-per-carry when he sees the field.
The Packers are going to have to find a way to control Philly's highly potent ground game if they are going to leave Philadelphia with another victory under their belt.
8. Eagles Defense Is Not What It Used To Be
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The talk about the Philadelphia Eagles throughout the past decade has been how Andy Reid's teams always have an exceptional, hard-hitting defense.
While the Eagles do still play that in-your-face style of football, they are certainly not the defense that they once were.
Philadelphia's defense has allowed an average of 24 points-per-game this season, which ranks 21st in the league.
Gone are the well-known names like Brian Dawkins, Hugh Douglas, Jeremiah Trotter and Sheldon Brown, guys one would associate with hard hits and big plays.
The unit can still get the job done. They wouldn't have finished the regular season with a 10-6 record if they didn't make some plays here and there.
But in reality, they just aren't the same defense that they once were, which could hurt them going up against an explosive offense like the Packers.
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7. Unpredictable
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The Packers truly were one of the biggest juggernauts in the NFL this season. When they played well, they looked like a Super Bowl contender. But when they played poorly, they made fans wonder where their beloved team had gone.
Green Bay notched signature wins against the Eagles, Jets and Giants this season. But on the other hand, they also lost games to Washington, Miami and Detroit, all three of which finished the season with below .500 records.
With that said, it is anyone's guess which team will show up against the Eagles this weekend. But with the season on the line and expectations riding high, my guess would be that the good version shows up, and this will be a game that fans will be talking about for weeks to come.
6. Big-Play DB's Vs. Big-Play WR's
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There will be two separate matchups that will be worth the price of admission in this one.
The Eagles' big-play receiving threat, DeSean Jackson, will be matched up against All-Pro corner Charles Woodson, while on the other side, the Packers' deep threat, Greg Jennings, will be going up against Eagle's lockdown corner Asante Samuel.
Both of these corners have been here before and performed on the biggest stage. Both of these receivers are fairly new to the NFL and have broken onto the scene in a big way these past couple of years.
Both Samuel and Woodson have been banged up at times this season, but both are healthy heading into the game. This should make for some exacting receiver-defensive back matchups.
5. Vick Isn't The Only Mobile Quarterback In This Game
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While Michael Vick is arguably the best mobile quarterback ever to play the game, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is not too bad at scrambling himself.
Green Bay's All-Pro quarterback rushed for 356 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. His 5.6 yards-per-carry clip ranked amongst the best of NFL quarterbacks.
He isn't going to take over a game with his scrambling ability, like Vick can. But, when the Eagles do bring a blitz, which should be early and often, Rodgers does have the ability to escape the pocket and create some positive yardage.
He certainly doesn't look pretty doing it, but Rodgers ability to run very well could be one of those small x-factors that plays into the final outcome of this game.
4. Unsung Heroes
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So, we know about the superstars playing in this game.
The Packers have Aaron Rodgers throwing the ball, Greg Jennings catching those passes, Charles Woodson defending the pass, and Clay Mathews chasing after Michael Vick.
On the end, the Eagles have Michael Vick throwing and running the ball, DeSean Jackson catching passes and returning kicks, Asante Samuel going up against Jennings, and Trent Cole pass rushing Aaron Rodgers.
But what about some other names to watch for in this wild-card matchup.
For the Packers, look for linebacker Eric Walden and or defensive tackle BJ Raji to come up with some big plays in this one.
Walden had a huge game in the Packers' playoff-clinching victory over the Bears, recording 11 tackles and two sacks. Raji is a load in the middle of the line who can stop the run as well as rush the passer, recording seven sacks on the year.
For the Eagles, look for the special teams unit to have a big impact on the game, and not just DeSean Jackson.
All-Pro kicker David Akers has been a successful kicker in the league for years, but this season might have been his best.
He has made 32 of 38 field goal attempts this season, and has been close to automatic with any kicks short of 45 yards.
3. DeSean Jackson Vs. Green Bay Special Teams
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You think DeSean Jackson isn't licking his chops about getting the chance to return punts against the Packers special teams unit? That is if the Packers even let the Eagles star return man get a chance to return one.
The NFL football world saw New England offensive lineman Dan Connolly rumble 71 yards on a kickoff return against Green Bay's special teams in a Sunday night national televised game.
Odds are Jackson saw highlights of that run and believes that he can do that, plus actually finish the return by getting into the end zone.
It will be interesting to see if the Packers do kick to Jackson, and if they do, if he can create more magic just as he has done all season long.
2. Both Of These Teams Want To Get Back to The Big Game
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Here is a surprising fact that might stand out to the average NFL fan: Despite consistently being one of the top teams in the NFL over the past decade, the Philadelphia Eagles have never won a Super Bowl.
They have reached the big game twice, in 1980 and 2004, but left on the losing end both times.
On the other side, the Green Bay Packers have three Super Bowl championships. But, only one of those titles have come in the past 43 years (1996).
Both of these teams have the ability to get back to the big game, and both of these teams certainly want to get back to the NFL's biggest stage. It will be interesting to see who wants it more come Sunday.
1. Prediction
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As good as the Packers have been playing as of late, the Eagles just have too much offensive firepower for Green Bay to overcome.
Michael Vick has been sensational this year, and what makes you think that he wouldn't continue his outstanding play with the season on the line.
It should be a high-scoring affair, with a lot of big plays. But in the end, Vick will be too much for the Packers defense to handle.
He is the one who got them to this point, and he will continue to lead the them throughout the playoffs.
Make it: Eagles 34, Packers 28
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